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SSTN  # 94 - September 14, 2002


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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:


1) No Other "gods" Lesson
2) Paper Tearing Sermon
3) Pumpkin Carving with Christian theme

--> The UN-Halloween Book

4) How to Increase Attendance
5) Low Attendance
6) Increase attendance: Start A Mini-Network
7) Children's church name
8) Children's church name
9) Prayer sermon?

--> Holiday FUN-draising


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1) No Other "gods" Lesson

I just posted a free lesson on one of the Ten Commandments. It is
accompanied with a Bible game and a craft. Find it listed under
"No other gods" in the Sermons and Object lessons part of the site:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/sermons.html 

I hope you enjoy using it!
Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><

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2) Paper Tearing Sermon

Ralph Dewey has books full of paper tear ideas.
Do a web search on Ralph Dewey for his email address.

--from SSTN: you can find some of his books in our Bookstore by using the
search box drop down list for authors:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html 
Also, other Paper Tearing sermon books are in our Sermons section of the
bookstore.


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3) Pumpkin Carving with Christian theme

We used the Pumpkin Patch Parable book and carved the pumpkin as we told
the story, We also had a pumpkin decorating contest. The pumpkins had to
represent a Bible character or Bible story. We had some AWESOME pumpkins!

Teresa
La Marque, TX

--from SSTN: this book is available in our Bookstore-Holidays section:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html  

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The UN-Halloween Book: A Complete Fall Festival for Children's Ministry 

Find this and many other Fall-Harvest books in our Bookstore-Holidays
section:  http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html 


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4) How to Increase Attendance

> I am a new Sunday School teacher for 5th graders.  There are only three
> children in my class.  I know there are more children and the ones in my
> class say that some of others just stopped coming. Any suggestions on how

In regards to the question of increasred attendance, I teach 3-5 year
olds. I had a similar situation a few years back.  To help with this, I prayed,
then I "put feet behind my prayers."  I started mailing letters to each
child that was in my age group.  Of course, kids love getting mail and I
didn't send them only to kids that didn't come, but to all of them.  This
not only improved my class but other classes as well, because parents
brought them and most of the time other brothers and sisters.  They love
home visits too.  Of course, you can have parties on Sat. and you can take
a child out ever so often, one at a time, if you can spend a little money.
Also I have contests.  I can maybe discuss more if you want.  My email:
thekingskid@comporium.net.
In Christ,
Nancy Kitts

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5) Low Attendance

This will be my fourth year teaching 5th grade Religious Ed.  Last year I
had 3 kids in my class, and one could come only every other week.  It
certainly is frustrating to spend valuable time preparing a
lesson/activity and then only have one or two kids show up;
BUT....perservere!  Anything you can do to touch these little souls is
well worth the effort.  Also, I agree with Sarah...phone calls to the
parents can't hurt.  Our Religious Ed director periodically calls parents
who have signed their kids up for Religious Ed but aren't making sure they
attend the classes and/or church services.
This can be a tough age group.  I have found that a hands-on activity is a
MUST; so I often prepare a Scriptural lesson around a great craft idea.  I
have tons of resources...books, pamphlets, this site and others.  I also
find that a "reward for voluntary ministry" system works well to get kids
motiviated...you can see my idea at Christian Crafters (Sarah....the link
for the reward poster?).  I emphasize daily prayer and provide each child
with a prayer journal (a blank journal from the dollar store).  Anything
edible goes over well with this age group...last Easter we made the "Empty
Tomb" baking project that I found here at SSTN, and the kids LOVED it.
I will definitely be praying for you, as you embark on this important
mission to get kids pumping up their faith lives!

Good Luck & God Bless, Heidi/NY  <(((><

--from SSTN: you can find the "Reward Chart" on the Crafts page at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/page6.html 

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6) Increase attendance: Start A Mini-Network

Last year I decided to start a mini email network with my class. I asked
all the girls (5th and 6th graders) for their email addresses. If they
didn't have one I called their parents to ask them to use theirs. Out of
about 20 girls, only one didn't have one, but her parents did. (Not having
access would be a real drawback to implementing this in your class.)
Anyway, I teach every other month. On the months that I teach I email my
girls one time during the week to ask them how their week is going and one
or two questions pertaining to the lesson coming up, or a review from the
week before. The answers are almost always found by using their Bibles.
Sometimes I'll give them a question that they may use to try and stump
their parents, or I have them ask their parents to help them find
something. I will sometimes include something funny or a riddle. It
usually takes 5-10 min. for the girls to complete. I ask them to print it
out and return it to class the following Sunday. If they return it
completed, they are rewarded with a trip to the candy jar. This has been
one of the MOST successful things I've done to connect with the girls and
I have had GREAT feedback from the parents. One parent even told me she
couldn't believe her daughter was looking up Scripture verses at home!
Very cool!
Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><

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7) Children's church name

Our Wednesday night program is called "Body Building"
We don't have a separate name for the kids program, though.

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8) Children's church name

Hi. We call ours "Bibleland Adventure" for our K-5 grade sunday school.
Hope it helps!

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9) Prayer sermon?

I am looking for a short children's sermon on "Prayer."

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Holiday FUN-draising

This holiday season raise funds for your youth group or school, or have a
home party! Sell our popular Chrismon Snowflake Ornaments books to earn
money!    There is NO financial risk. Learn how on this page:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/fundraiser.html 


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A buck-a-month will help to keep SSTN alive! Click here to learn more:

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Sarah Keith <><
ChristianCrafters.Com
438 East Ilex Drive
Lake Park, FL 33403
USA

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